President Obama at ASU
May. 14th, 2009 09:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jessipsaloquiturSo, yesterday, the brief version:
- Ambient temperature: asphalt-melting levels of hot!
- Time spent in scorching heat: approximately 8 hours
- Heatstroke/Dehydration: CHECK!
- Hearing President Obama speak in person: PRICELESS!!!
That was AMAZING!!! I'll find a link to his speech later, because y'all really should take a listen. Inspiring doesn't even begin to cover it. I still find it incredible that we have a President in the White House who, with everything he says and everything he does, motivates ME to be a better version of myself, who makes me want to do more, and BE more. That, right there, is the very definition of leadership.
But, OMG, you guys, it was so hot! (I do not exaggerate when I say the asphalt was literally melting under my feet! You could not stand in one place for more than a few seconds because your tennis shoes would be stuck to the pavement!) I'm an Arizona native; I know hot. And I know what to do to stay healthy in the heat. And I did all those things. I was covered in sunscreen. I was wearing the right clothes. I was drinking SO MUCH water. I had a hat on and cool towels on my head and neck. And for a long time I was ok. And then after about four hours at my post, which was herding about 70,000 people through metal detectors as quickly and orderly as possible, I just hit a wall. I was this >.< close to passing out, before making it back to our shade/water area for some downtime. After a while I cooled off enough to go back out and finish my shift before heading in to the stadium. But, while not on the verge of fainting, I was still feeling very unwell. I made it through the hour wait, the commencement rituals, and President Obama's speech, but scooted out of there immediately after ward. I walked the mile to the light rail station. Thankfully my brother was in charge of security at that station so he got me on the first train out. I made it out to the park and ride and was headed home; I thought I was in the clear, but about a half mile from my house I had to pull over and proceeded to get violently ill. Not fun. The heat-induced migraine did not abate until about 5 this morning. I'm feeling fine now but it was a sketchy 12 hours.
Still, though, I'm glad I did it. That man is an inspiring orator. It was totally worth the heatstroke to hear him speak.
- Ambient temperature: asphalt-melting levels of hot!
- Time spent in scorching heat: approximately 8 hours
- Heatstroke/Dehydration: CHECK!
- Hearing President Obama speak in person: PRICELESS!!!
That was AMAZING!!! I'll find a link to his speech later, because y'all really should take a listen. Inspiring doesn't even begin to cover it. I still find it incredible that we have a President in the White House who, with everything he says and everything he does, motivates ME to be a better version of myself, who makes me want to do more, and BE more. That, right there, is the very definition of leadership.
But, OMG, you guys, it was so hot! (I do not exaggerate when I say the asphalt was literally melting under my feet! You could not stand in one place for more than a few seconds because your tennis shoes would be stuck to the pavement!) I'm an Arizona native; I know hot. And I know what to do to stay healthy in the heat. And I did all those things. I was covered in sunscreen. I was wearing the right clothes. I was drinking SO MUCH water. I had a hat on and cool towels on my head and neck. And for a long time I was ok. And then after about four hours at my post, which was herding about 70,000 people through metal detectors as quickly and orderly as possible, I just hit a wall. I was this >.< close to passing out, before making it back to our shade/water area for some downtime. After a while I cooled off enough to go back out and finish my shift before heading in to the stadium. But, while not on the verge of fainting, I was still feeling very unwell. I made it through the hour wait, the commencement rituals, and President Obama's speech, but scooted out of there immediately after ward. I walked the mile to the light rail station. Thankfully my brother was in charge of security at that station so he got me on the first train out. I made it out to the park and ride and was headed home; I thought I was in the clear, but about a half mile from my house I had to pull over and proceeded to get violently ill. Not fun. The heat-induced migraine did not abate until about 5 this morning. I'm feeling fine now but it was a sketchy 12 hours.
Still, though, I'm glad I did it. That man is an inspiring orator. It was totally worth the heatstroke to hear him speak.
